This passed UNANIMOUSLY tonight:

WHEREAS racism, homophobia, transphobia, discrimination, and stigma are associated with poorer physical, mental, and emotional health and greater mortality, making racism an important public health issue; and Continue reading “Racism, homophobia, transphobia, and all forms of discrimination or oppression are public health issues” →

I don’t always agree with my colleagues and that’s the nature of the beast that is politics. I try, though, to leave those disagreements where I feel they belong – in Council Chambers.

HOWEVER, when a colleague makes statements like the ones found here, something needs to be said.

This is not okay.
This is not acceptable behaviour.
These statements are divisive and exclude a great many people in our communities across Niagara.
We cannot govern Niagara effectively if people feel excluded or targeted.

Anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism exist in Niagara.
There has been an uptick in anti-Asian racism in Niagara.
Still more broadly than the groups I’ve mentioned, racism exists in Niagara.
Homophobia exists in Niagara.
Transphobia exists in Niagara.
Misogyny exists in Niagara.
Many, many forms of oppression exist in Niagara.

Councillor Bylsma (who is also the mayor of West Lincoln) doesn’t know “what they’re still fighting for.”

That’s easy, Councillor Bylsma. “They’re” still fighting for equity.

This is the main reason why – under the leadership of this term of Council – Niagara Region joined the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities (the work of CIM will be resourced appropriately when we’ve come a bit further through the pandemic).

It is because of thinking like this that so many of us in the community work so hard to educate ourselves, listen, and do our best to represent the entire community.

I am sorry that I have a colleague who feels this way. Please know that these statements are not reflective of most of your Regional Council.

There’s been talk, again, in recent days about information being leaked from in-camera (closed session) meetings to the media.

And I have so many things to say about this that I thought I’d lay them all out here on the blog.

Continue reading “Leaks – I have some things to say…” →

At the February 20, 2020, Regional Council meeting, I presented a motion for the direct election of the Regional Chair. You can read my pre-meeting thoughts about this motion here.

Following up on the motion to see the Regional Chair be directly elected come the 2022 election, here’s the motion, followed by what I said following the presentation of the motion: Continue reading “Election of the Regional Chair – follow-up” →

During the campaign, I made the following promise:

“As the Municipal Act mandates that we are to undergo a governance review in this upcoming term of Council, I will work tirelessly toward us having a directly elected Regional Chair in the 2022 election.”

Now, grab yourself a coffee or cup of tea and kick back for a bit of a lengthy read…and bonus super nerd material at the end of this post. Continue reading “Direct Election of the Regional Chair” →